Bath v London Wasps

Saturday, 2.15pm, Recreation Ground, ESPN

Tom Palmer starts for Wasps who are looking to recover from last weekend's astonishing comeback by Harlequins at Twickenham while Chris Bell comes into the centre to face Bath for whom Lee Mears makes a 250th appearance at hooker alongside Nathan Catt. Simon Taylor also returns to the Bath back row and Olly Barkley retains his place after kicking Bath to a dramatic win at Worcester.

Match Pointers Wasps have won on three of their last five visits to the Rec … Wasps have not won on the road since beating Worcester last October.

Leicester v Worcester

Saturday, 3pm, Welford Road

Leicester are most pundits' tip for the title and this will be a difficult afternoon for the Warriors for whom the fly-half Andy Goode returns to Welford Road. Scott Hamilton makes his 100th start on the left-wing for the Tigers who have Sam Harrison at scrum-half. Martin Castrogiovanni starts at tight-head and the former Worcester lock Graham Kitchener replaces Rob Andrew in the second row.

Match Pointers Worcester have never won here … Leicester have won their last 12 games at Welford Road.

London Irish v Gloucester

Saturday, 3pm, Madejski Stadium

London Irish, who face a long winter on the evidence of last weekend's humbling by Saracens, put 52 points past Gloucester on the final day of last season but the Cherry and Whites are unrecognisable from that day. Jim Hamilton returns to lead them and Henry Trinder replaces Mike Tindall in the centre. Declan Danaher is back to lead Irish. The flanker replaces Jamie Gibson.

Match Pointers Gloucester have lost their last seven Premiership games … Irish have not lost this fixture since November 2006.

Sale v Saracens

Saturday, 4.30pm, Salford City Stadium, ESPN

Danny Cipiani starts at fly-half for Sale in their new home, the 32nd venue to host a Premiership match. Mark Cueto also has a first start of the season that promised so much before last week's thrashing at Exeter. Saracens looked ominously good last week and former Shark Charlie Hodgson, the leading scorer in Premiership history, is back in an unchanged starting side with Owen Farrell on the bench.

Match Pointers Sale have won only one of their last eight games against Saracens … Sale have not lost their opening two games for seven years.

Northampton v Exeter

Sunday, 3pm, Franklin's Gardens, 3pm, Sky Sports 2

The Chiefs continue to be upwardly mobile with that emphatic win over Sale giving them a perfect start. Their Kiwi centre Jason Shoemark, though, misses the visit to Franklin's Gardens where Tom Wood, back after his injury-interrupted season, returns to the back row. Phil Dollman replaces Shoemark and Luke Arscott fills in for Dollman at full-back.

Match Pointers Saints have won five of their last six home games ... Exeter's only win here was in March 2011.